FLYMPH FORUM

Photo of the back - intended to show the how the pheasant tail fibers form the dark dorsal line of the pattern



Olive-Gray Duster (Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle Nymph)
Hook - Mustad 3906 Heavy Wet Fly Hook/Size 8 and 10 (debarb/optional)
Body - UNI-Yarn (Insect Green)
Tag/Rib - Ultra Wire (Gold/Small)
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Camel)
Tail/Dorsal Strip/Wing Case - Pheasant Tail Fibers (Natural)
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge (Natural)
Thorax - Ostrich Herl from a Feather duster (Natural Gray/Dun)
Head - Double 3-turn whip finish using the tying thread

Materials are listed in the order they are tyed onto the hook. Quite a few materials, but once you get the hang of tying them, they go fairly quickly.



These could easily be tyed in a range of colors, by switching out the yarn and/or the herl color. Give them a try. Hopefully they are as fun to fish, as they are to tie.

Note on hook choice: I chose the Mustad 3906 because it is a nice heavy nymph hook. The 3906B would also be a good choice, if you want a longer bodied nymph. When designing how the fly behaves in the water, I want to be able to fish this fly deeply for steelhead. I wanted a durable hook which would sink quickly (thus the narrow body profile). If I was clever, I'd find a way to underweight the thorax area with the ribbing wire, but when I tried it had ended up with a little more bulk than I wanted. I'm sure I can figure something out. I just need to play around more with a few ideas. All part of the fun.

These little puppies are just begging to go fishing. Just add water...

That looks real nice wet!!! Two thumbs up.

Beautiful flies, Ray. Thanks for the pics and recipe.

Regards,
Scott

Ostrich? I may have to try some.

Looks great Ray.

Wayne - I think it is ostrich herl, but I may be wrong. The herl came from my feather duster. That's right. MY feather duster.



Go ahead and laugh, but real fisherman aren't afraid of buying feather dusters. Besides, I'm not brave enough to ask my wife where she keeps our dusting supplies. That could end badly... especially if she caught me chopping pieces out of it...

let her think moths got to it.

<insert mental picture of Ray in a house dress and apron, standing in front of a knick-knack shelf with his featherduster.>

Too much detail?

Great looking fly. I'll have to try it with an orange abdomen. This is a couple of flies lately with pheasant over the top of the body. Intriguing. I like the look

Kirk

Kirk - Shudder. No one wants to see that.

What a great pattern Ray, this would make a nice trout fly too! That Ostrich is awesome. Grey with tan in it? Super cool and very impressionistic I'm sure.

Eric - Good eyes. The herl is medium grey, fading to tan at the tips. I picked this one because the color reminded me of honey dun hackle, which has a similar color combo. The herl is more tan near the tip of the feather. A nice herl for imitative patterns.